Slideshow for my Hosts

In case my photo album doesn't make it through customs, I thought I'd share some photos from home with this slideshow. Enjoy!

Time and Weather Together

What's it like in Wellington and New Paltz right now?
Check in here to find out what time it is and what the weather is like!

Team Meeting in New Paltz

Today The GSE Team had our final pre-flight group meeting to prepare for our trip to New Zealand. Our 1-quart ziploc baggies are packed. Our bags are measured and weighed. We have all the magnets, pens, stickers, maps and photographs we can carry, and our presentation is presentable! Now all we have to do is get to JFK during rush hour! Wish us luck!

Front row left to right: Bob Broadhurst, District Chairperson. Jim Pelton, Alternate Team Leader. George Duarte, Team Leader.
Back row left to right: Nancy Proyect, Team Member. Noreen Knips, Team Member. Heather Malcom, Team Member. Helen Gutfreund (me), Team Member.

After the meeting, a few of us spent some time getting to know each other a little better - here's a photo of Heather, a fish kissing Heather, a squirrel sitting on Heather's head and Noreen. A good time was had by all.

In The News

Hey - I made the paper!

From The Poughkeepsie Journal:

Monday, February 12, 2007
Good Life: In The Mid-Hudson Valley

Rotary sends New Paltz woman to New Zealand

The Rotary Foundation is sending Helen Gutfreund, a licensed massage therapist from New Paltz, to New Zealand on its Group Study Exchange.

The Group Study Exchange program of the Rotary Foundation is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries.

For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country’s institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.

Gutfreund recently spoke to the Red Hook Rotary about her travel plans to New Zealand.
Call the the Red Hook Rotary at 845-758-8206.

Red Hook Rotary Presentation

I was asked to speak at the Red Hook, NY chapter of Rotary Club after I was selected for GSE and today was the day. This morning, at the "Roasted Garlic Restaurant", I spoke for approximately 15 minutes about myself and the GSE and got a wonderful, warm response from the group's members, not to mention a delicious breakfast and a beautiful gift pen.

Here is a photo of me with Fred Cartier (left), the President of the Red Hook Rotary Club, and Walter Avis (right), the gentleman who so kindly nominated me for inclusion in the GSE.

Thanks to the group for presenting me with some of their banners which I will be taking to New Zealand with me to present to each club I will speak to along with with my team. Thanks also to Jonah Triebwasser for taking and sending me the photo.